Himachal helitaxi services to boost high end tourism – Dhumal

Shimla: To add a new experience to high end tourism in the hill state, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal would be launching the much awaited helitaxi serives on Saturday morning.

Speaking about the service, the chief minister said the heli-taxi service would acquaint high end tourists about the hidden beauty of the hill state.

Director tourism and civil aviation, Arun Sharma said that the department had already signed an agreement with heli-taxi operators, who would base their serivce from Annadale helipad in Shimla.

â€œSuccess of the service would depend upon demand, he added.

The tourism department has handed out the service to two operators, Simm Samm Airways and Shiva Heli Services who would ply heli-taxi services between Shimla-Kullu, Kullu-Manali-Rohtang-Tandi, joyflights around Shimla and Manali as well as would proivde reliable connectivity to other remote valleys.

The state is networked with 57 helipads, many of them located in remote areas of Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Pangi valleys, which are otherwise not accessible easily.

During winters, snow cuts of a large part of the higher altitude regions from the existing road network and only helicopters can access these snowbound areas.

Sharma said that the Department expects that with the introduction of the service the inflow of high-end tourists and corporate houses would increase which that would help in generation of indirect employment opportunities, even in the remote areas.

Details about fare and flight timings can be had from offices of Himachal Tourism or directly from the companies at these Tel Noâ€™s. 098140-42482,098141-11125 and 0177-2831280, 092186-20213.